Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-04
The Philadelphia Association Entsrtains
PCketts Division.

LADIEs, COMRADES AM FRIENDS
The high honor of calling this meeting to
order has been assigned to me. This Is, as
YOU all know, the first fraternal meeting
of the blue and gray that has taken place
on these historic grounds, and standing
beside the last resting place OF the honored
dead, who here gave their last lull
measure of their devotion to the Union,
| saw to you that these fraternal meet
ings of blue and gray will do more 10
create and maintain a sincere lasting
fellowship among the people OF the whole
nation than anything else that has taken
place since the wal tor the preservation OF
the Union ended, and | hope to see, as |
believe, that they will be held all along
the line from Gettysburg to Vicksburg'
now have the pleasure OF presenting
comrade W. S. Stockton as the presiding
officer of this meeting, with the statement
that to him more than any other, Is due
the credit of bringing it about"
Mr.. Stockton, upon assuming the chair
manship, said that he thanked his COM
rades for the honor conferred upon him.
As presiding officer, it was his pleasant
| duty to present Col. Charles Ii. Banes,
president OF the Philadelphia Brigade AS
| ISOLATION, who would extend a soldiers
welcome to foes in war, but warm, devoted
and lasting friends in peace.
THE VETERANS WELCOME.
Col. Bane stepped forward and said:
FeVpp.citizeRS and members Of PickettS d.
risioa Of the 4rmy Of Northern Virginia:
An honorable and pleasing duty has
been assigned TO NE by the Philadelphia
Brigade or the Second Division, Second
| Corps, of the Army of the Potomac. This
veteran brigade OF the Union army, com
posed OF the SiXty-ninth, Seventy-hrst,
Seventy-secOnd and One hundred-and-siXth
regiments of Pennsylvania volunteers,
upon more than one occasion during the
dark hours OF the Republic, encountered
your people ID active warfare, ana IL iell
To oar lot to meet IN hostile tray n
deadly conflict in what may truly be
called the crisis of the Battle OF iTettys-
burg, within the sight of the masses OF
both armies. on that memorable alter
noon OF July 3, 1868. The old issues
ale dead aud new ones confront
Us. We, who have fought as
the blue aud gray can discern the past, II
need, in the light OF the present as travel
ers who. after p~eiilous journeys and con-
hiCts by the way, sit down on the noun
tain top and review the scenes through
which they have passed and dangers of the
road over which they have iorrneycd, we
welcome You to this historic held and It's
memories with true solGierly greeting. In
the performance of this duty We would
fail To hOnOrably acquit ourselves did we
not annOuuc to you that the spontaneous
movement OF the Philadelphia brigade IN
the tender of this reception has cordial
and practical support OF our citizens oil All
classes and pursuits of life.
And now ii remains for inc 10 say to you,
the men of Pickett's Division, by authority
of this brigade assembled and ITS friends,
that we desire that you will honor us dur
ing your stay at Gettysburg by becoming
our quests.
SOUTHERN THANKS.
G.. +. Reeves, of Richmond, the Conn
maudcr of Pickett's Division Association,
responded as follows:
FRIENDS AND CuMRADES-l desire tor
my friends and comrades to tender you our
heartfelt thanks for the kind, cordial Ii
hearty welcome extended to us on this, an
occasion never to he forgotten by us; but
cherished and remembered rs IA bright spot
in the checkered pathway OF life. II, IN
the remarks which | desire to make, ON u
subject on which ! have thought much
aud felt deeply, I should be led to say
Some things which might he better
| left umsald, attribute them to warmth OF
| my FEELINGS on the subject; bear in min
tina. | am speaking in no representative
| capacity; but am solely responsible Tor
| the sentiments | utter. Perhaps some OF
Won have seen IN article III the New York
| HcruH on the subject Of n Union mOnu-
ment to be erected on that spot selected by
| Hancock and Pickett's divisions, which
| should lie national in its character and
not commemorative of any particular
division oleither army. but to the memory
OF both armies, a monument OF American
val0r and magnanlmlty; u monument
which would stand rs Il pledge OF per
petnal union, seeing that WE unite in
doing honor to our dead; 4 pledge
of perpetual reconciliation. A mizpah
stone. its shaft pointing upward ana call
lng upon heaven to witness II reconcile
alton and renewed covenant that none OF
MS would ever pass to harm the other, and
saving in thu language OF Scripture, The
Lord watch between thou and us, and what
shall | say for those, my comrades, endtar-
ed bv p~rivationS shared, hardShipS endured,
and dangers encountered; scarcely Is there
a battle from Bull Run to AppOmattox,
which some one dear to mt did not crown
with their lives their devotion their native
States. Dear comrades, hOnOrsd as men,
loved as companions; cold IN death, Will my
heart be ere | cease to love and honor you,
AUNITED COUNTRY,
vet nv heart is large enough to embrace
nv whole country from the Atlantic TO the
Pacific, from the Lakes to the Gulf, to re-
joice in her prosperity, to glory in her
greatness, to feel a thrill of pride when
her course is ~ glorious as her might is re-
| ~SistlesS. when her m~agnaminity equals her
power. And to YOU gentlemen OF Gettys'
burg, let me say this is an opportunity tn
display n magnaminity worthy of this
great nation. Leave to time, the touch
stone which tries all human action. the
question OF right and wrong involved; let
! the future historian, probably yet unborn,
try the cause, and posterity will render a
verdict which is apt to be Just.
He was followed by Col. Alexander Nj.
Mcclure of Philadelphia, and Col. VIM.
Il. Aylett OF Virginia, who also made briet
speeches. Letters of regret were received
from the President and his cabinet, Sena,
tor Sherman, Governor Fitzhugh Lee,
Hon. Edwin NJ. Filter, Mayor of Philadel'
phia, Gen. Louis Wagner, Hon. Geo. W.
Childs, George Wm. Curtis, Chas. A.
Dana, Adjutant General OF Pennsylvania,
and Others.
THE WHITE HOUSE LETTER
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, June "a, 1881.
have received your invitation to attend
as guest OF the Philadelphia brigade, a re,
union of the cS Confederate soldiers OF
Pickett's division, who survived their
terrible charge at Gettysburg, and
those of the Union army still
~liv;py nv whom il was herOiCally